554 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [February i, 1888. 
INDIAN AND CEYLON TEA LONDON MAEKET 
REVIEW FOR 1887. 
[Stenning, Inskipp & Co.] 
INDIAN. 
The Course or the Market. — The low prices at 
the close of 1886 and the increasing deliveries caused a 
steady tone at the opening of business for the year, 
and values hardened until about the middle of Feb- 
ruary, when slackness set in, but only for a short 
time, being succeeded by a good demand, especially 
for the better qualities, which marked an advance. 
The commoner grades were in rather large supply, 
nnd soon became dull at easier rates, especially for 
low and common broken teas. This position was 
maintained until the arrival of the new crop in June, 
but the teas being poor met with no support, and 
were difficult to sell, even at low values; later on, 
arrivals showed better liquors, and were well bid 
for at high prices, especially good-flavored Darjee- 
lings; inferior teas continued very slow of sale. Towards 
the end of August large actions caused dulness, and 
all Teas sold cheaper except choice fkvory parcels; 
about a month later rather more enquiry set in, 
especially for common and medium kinds, which after 
fluctuating in demnnd, ultimately received more at- 
tention ; the poor quality of China, no doubt, con- 
tributing to the enquiry. The year closed with a 
continuance of the demand for Teas for price, and 
with a somewhat duller tone for the higher grades. 
Present Prices.— With the exception of Broken 
Teas, Fannings and Dusts, which are Id. to 2d lower, 
values are on a par with those ruling at this period 
of 1887. 
The Season.— -With the extended use of machinery, 
and the quickening and cheapening of transport from 
the great majority of estates, the Teas have been, 
as a rule, produced at a less cost than hitherto, and 
although, for a time here, values went to an ex- 
ceedingly low point, we think, so far as the present 
season has gone, that results to well managed properties 
have been very satisfactory ; on some estates heavy 
plucking has been attended with very low and possibly 
losing averages. These varying results would indicate 
what has been so often urged that a moderately fine 
system of pluking will prove the most remunerative in 
the loDg run. If coarse plucking during the next season 
be anywhere contemplated, we would warn planters that 
they will have not only to contend with common 
China, but also, and more adversely, with larger sup- 
plies of Ceylon teas. This latter growth is having 
more and more effect, not only on the course of the 
Indian market, but on that of the China as well. 
Figures.— The remarkable falling-off in the demand 
for China tea in recent years has further increased 
during the twelve months just expired, so much so 
that for some time the total home consumption was 
hardly equal to that of Indian and Ceylon together, 
and for four months indeed was actually less ; more- 
over, this has taken place at a time when the bulk 
of China tea is selling at lower prices than ever be- 
fore known, and goes to prove that the taste of con- 
sumers is becoming more and more established in 
favour of tea grown in our own dependencies. As to 
the future of China tea it is difficult to believe it 
can regain the estimation it once held amongst con- 
sumers^ unless producers so entirely alter their mode 
of cultivation and manufacture as to enable them to 
export teas as good as those of 15 or 20 years ago. 
But even such a radical change as this could hardly 
have any effect on the progress of Indian and Ceylon 
tea for many years to come, and during the interval 
the production from these latter countries will have 
attained 6uch dimensions as to quite subordinate the 
produce of China. 
In drawing any comparison between the consump- 
tion of Indian and Ceylon with China, it must not 
be forgotten that the decrease in the use of China is 
even greater than appears at first sight as both Indian 
and Ceylon teas go so much further in the tea-pot. 
The quantity shipped on Garden Account again 
shews a slight increase, this is mainly due to the low 
exchange and, for a portion of the season, a low 
average selling price in Calcutta, together with the 
yearly increasing attention paid by buyers in London 
to successive complete Garden Invoices. 
The quantities compare as follows: — 
July to Dec. 
1887. 188C. 
pkgs. pkgs. 
On Garden Account 311,186 271,374 
On Purchase Account 210,812 198,983 
or 60 per cent, on G. Acct. or 57J per cent. 
1885. 1884. 
pkgs. pkgs. 
On Garden Account ... 226,972 192,183 
On Parchase Account 170,260 212,560 
or 57 per cent, or 47J per cent. 
QUANTITY FROM THE DIFFERENT 
DISTRICTS. 
Assam. — An increasing amount of sttention during 
the past few years has been given to manufacture, 
resulting generally, so far as the current season is 
concerned, in an improved style of tea. The good 
prices made here for useful liquoring parcels should be 
an incentive to further efforts; there has been, how- 
ever, too large a proportion of light coloured liquors 
without pungent flavour, and these have euly sold with 
difficulty at rather low rates, compared with the prices 
paid in 1886. 
Cachae. — We have again to report no improvement 
on the produce of last season, the teas with few ex- 
ceptions have been weak and wanting in flavour ; in 
some instances it seems as if quantity had been pre- 
ferred to quality. We also note that fewer marks 
even than last season have shown desirable character. 
Sylhet. — Until lately supplies were only of moder- 
ate quality, we are glad to note that recent arrivals 
contain some fair teas, but still below the standard 
of what this district is capable of producing and has 
produced occasionally in past seasons. 
Darjebling & Terai. — The quantity of true flavoury 
tea, although still small has been gi eater than last 
season, it seems to us that the good prices to be 
obtained for desirable liquoring teas are causing greater 
attention to be paid to their production. Dull and 
flavourlefs parcels have again been difficult to sell. 
Dooars*. — The produce of this district, although im- 
proved, btill disappoints the expectations raised a few 
years ago; we bear, however, that the weather this 
season has been more conducive to a large yield than 
to a good cup. The fact remains that more than one 
of the marks, which have hitherto b' i n noted for 
turning out good liquors, have fallen ofl . 
Chittagong. — The bulk of the manufacture has not 
been nearly equal to that of last season, when the teas 
were excellent, and realized handsome prices. We 
would remind planters that tea from this district when 
arriving regularly, of good quality, attracts much at- 
tention from buyers. 
Kangea Valley & Kumaon. — Last season we re- 
ported that the produce was disappointing,' this fea- 
ture has unfortunately again been prominent, and 
fewer desirab'e teas than ever before have ap- 
peared here. 
Dehra Doosr. — Only small quantities have arrived, 
and these fully maintain the improvement noted a 
years ago. 
NeilgheRRY. — The flavoury teas usually received from 
a few gardens in this district have been but sparsely 
represented this season. 
Tbavancobe. — Larger quantities are yearly being 
produced here, and care stems to be given to manu- 
facture ; when the liquors were good the teas realized 
full rates. 
Java. — The low prices ruling generally have affected 
this variety, and transactions have been much smaller 
both of direct and indirect shipments. The quality 
has been rather over the average. 38,954 packages 
have been offered during the 12 months, as compared 
with 46,552 in 1886, Holland taking a larger propor- 
tion than last year. 
Sorting. — As a rule four, or at most five, breaks in 
an invoice are all that are really needed, viz. : Orange 
Pekoe or Broken Orange Pekoe, Pekoe, Broken Pekoe, 
Broken Tea and Pekoe Souchong, with an occasional 
lot of Fannings and Dust. Such an assortment should 
be practicable if the leaf be plucked moderately fine 
Dusty teas are much objected to by buyers, and fre 
